932 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



" comma " bacillus. The rabbits at any rate sickened and died with 

 symptoms resembling those of cholera, and the intestines were found 

 to be infested with the " comma " bacilli.* 



On the other hand Dr. Klein, who is studying the cholei-a question 

 in Calcutta, is reported to be satisfied that Koch's bacillus is not the 

 cause of the disease, and has swallowed a number of the microbia 

 without any evil results. f 



Influence of Culture Fluids and Medicinal Reagents on the 

 Growth and Development of Bacillus tuberculosis. — Dr. C. T. 



Williams gives the results of a series of experiments the object of 

 which was to determine the conditions under which the Bacillus tuber- 

 culosis Koch grows and multiplies, and to examine its behaviour under 

 the influence of certain medicinal agents and reputed antiseptics. 



The sputum of patients in advanced phthisis was used for experi- 

 ment, spread on cover-glasses, the staining process employed being 

 the Weigert-Ehrlich modification of Koch's original method. 



Between 200 and 300 specimens were thus examined with an Abbe 

 condenser and an F (1/12) immersion lens, giving a magnifying power 

 of 550 diameters. Higher powers up to 1390 diameters were 

 employed for investigating the structure of the bacilli. 



The methods adopted to ascertain the increase or diminution of 

 the bacilli were : — 1st, to count the numbers present in a series of 

 fields of view, at least six, and often twelve, being counted, and in 

 doubtful cases the whole slide was carefully gene over before a con- 

 clusion was arrived at; 2nd, to note the length of the bacilli and 

 the presence or absence of well-marked divisions in these preceding 

 their multiplication ; Srd, to observe whether the bacilli were isolated 

 or in groups. 



In every case a standard for comparison was first taken from the 

 sputum and the number of bacilli counted ; the rest of the sputum was 

 divided into portions of 20 to 30 minims, mixed with solutions of 

 various medicinal and other agents, and then kept in a Page's incuba- 

 tor at a uniform temperature of 38° C, for periods of from forty-eight 

 hours to eight days. 



The following cultivation fluids were used : — 



Syrup solution of the strength of 2 drachms of syrup to 1 ounce 

 of water; hay infusion; Pasteur's solution (without sugar); beef 

 solution, 1 ounce of meat to 2 ounces of water ; beef solution, ^ ounce 

 of meat to 2 ounces of water ; pork broth (Klein) ; also distilled 

 water and the subjoined medicinal agents in solution were mixed, in 

 generally equal proportions, with the sputum, and kept at the same 

 temperature as above ; solutions of quinine in strength varying from 

 2 gr. to the ounce to 10 gr. to the ounce ; solutions of arsenous acid 

 J gr. to the oimce, and 1 gr. to the ounce ; solutions of boracic acid, 

 1 part in 30 and 1 part in 15 ; solutions of iodine, 1 part in 12 ; 

 solutions of perchloride of mercury, 1 gr. to the ounce. 



* Micr. News, iv. (1884) p. 290. 



t Journ. of Sci., vi. (1884) p. 694. 



j Proc. Koy. Soc, xxxvi. (1884) pp. 510-2. 



